Interchangeable equipment wall structures



March 10, 1959 Filed April 16, 1954 J. s. SHARP 2,876,909

INTERCHANGEABLE EQUIPMENT WALL STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ FIGJCI INVENTOR.

March 10, -1 959 J. 5. SHARP INTERCHANGEABLE EQUIPMENT WALL STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1954 Q FIG-2 INVENTOR.

United tes INTERCHANGEABLE EQUIPIVIENT WALL STRUCTURES John Stanley Sharp, Lido Beach, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Brunswick-Balke-Collenrler '00., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,687

Claims. (Cl. 211-103) cific purpose is either built into or permanently attached to the walls and floors of the room, and thereafter any change in the use to which the room is to be put involves changes in the structure of the room itself at considerable expense.

Furthermore the existing and heretofore prevailing practice above described does not lend itself readily to standardization of such units as chalkboard, shelving and cabinets, and this has resulted in expensive remodelling or scrapping of much equipment because it could not be made to fit in another room. Additionally, the present practice involves more time, labor and material than are required in the wall structure presented in this application, not only for the original installation but also for maintenance.

It is the purpose of this invention to eliminate the drawbacks enumerated above and additionally to obtain other important advantages. For example, the equipment units detachably suspended on this wall structure can be removed without the use of tools in a matter of moments, thus exposing the entire wall surface for cleaning or re-painting, and eliminating the hazard of spotting or marring the equipment. Similarly, this equipment can be removed and taken to the carpenter or paint shop for refinishing or repair, meanwhile being replaced by a similar spare item of equipment from reserve stock. Suspension of all equipment clear of the floor permits floor cleaning and servicing from wall to wall without moving or marring equipment.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure in which the basic wall surfaces of all classrooms may be identical and units of equipment of varying sizes and purposes may be arranged in accordance with the needs of a given classroom. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide interchangeability of equipment units of varying sizes and purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economical structure for classrooms in schools and colleges.

Another object of the invention is to provide freedom of access to walls and floors of classrooms for maintenance, repair or other reasons by the quick and easy removal of the detachable equipment units.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the conversion of a classroom from one use to another which may be radically different, simply by detaching and re moving one set of equipment units and replacing them with units suitable to'the new purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide flexibility in adaptation of the classroom to different age groups through provision in this wall structure for raising or 2,876,909 Patented Mar. 10, 1959 lowering equipment units to accommodate their height to the height of the varying age groups.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing a typical embodiment of the invention including a supporting wall with vertical members uniformly spaced and to which are detachably and interchangeably secured shelving, a utility closet and panels of varying sizes and uses, such as chalkboard, tackboard and a panel carrying a clock.

Fig. 1a is a similar view to Fig. l, but showing a different arrangement of interchangeable and detachable units to illustrate the flexibility of classroom adaptation made possible by this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line 2-2 of Fig. 1a, showing the upper and lower sections of a vertical member, the center section being identical in appearance and carrying no attachments not shown, and showing the method of attachment of the vertical member to the wall and of an equipment unit to the vertical member.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing further details of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3:

A series of vertical members, such as 1 (Fig. l) are attached to a wall 10 at uniform intervals, such as by T plates 7 (Fig. 2) which fit into rabbetted slots in vertical members 1 to which they are attached by machine bolts 8 countersunk into the vertical members 1. Vertical alignment of the sides of the vertical members 1 is achieved by means of oblong horizontal slots 11 (Fig. 3) in T plate 7 permitting lateral adjustment of the vertical member 1. T plates 7 are anchored into wall by machine bolts 9 with expansion shields or butterfly toggles as may be required. Vertical alignment of the front face of vertical member 1 is achieved by moving the member forward or backward on the tongue of T plate 7 to exact vertical position before drilling a hole in the tongue of T plate 7 to permit inserting machine bolt 8. These adjusting procedures permit compensating for any unevenness in wall 10 or floor 15 surfaces so that the sides and faces of all vertical members 1 are vertical, the distance between all said members is uniform, and all faces are in the same vertical plane and all bases in the same horizontal plane. The vertical members 1 are provided on their opposite faces with a series of key-hole slots In (Fig. 2) equally spaced vertically throughout substantially the full length of the members 1 and are adapted to receive attaching bolts such as 4, held in seated position in the desired slot by means of lock nuts such as 5 (Figs. 2 and 3). The slots 1a are conveniently provided in attachment channel strips 2 forming a part of the vertical members 1 as by mounting the strips in grooves 2a in the members 1. This means of attachment provides for vertical adjustment and, being positioned entirely on the respectively opposite side faces of the vertical members 1, leaves the front faces of the vertical members smooth so as to provide a pleasing finished ap pearance when not covered by a supported unit and also facilitates the mounting of supported units in the alternative manner to be described below.

Equipment shown by way of illustration in the present embodiment of the invention comprise panels designated 12a12e (Figs. 1, 1a) inclusive, adapted to be used for one or the other purpose, i. e., chalkboard, tackboard, acoustic panel, clock panel; also shelving units such as 13a-13c inclusive, which may be adapted to various types of articles; and other units such as utilit closet 14.

.Said equipment units 12a.-12e are mounted on vertical members 1 in the manner now to be described. Angle clips such as 3 are attached to the back of each of the units adjacent the four corners thereof respectively, as by wood screws lav passing through one leg 3b of each clip into the back of the panel, the other leg 30 of each clip being provided with a slot such as 3d. The clips are so disposed that the slotted leg 3c is disposed inwardly from a vertical side edge of the unit and extends rearwardly thereof. The slotted angle clips 3 are so placed that they may be reached easily by hand, and are so located with reference to swaged .bolts 4 that the slot 3:! in the angle clips 3 slide down over .the .swaged bolts 4 just clearing lock nut 5 which holds swaged bolt 4 securely in position in slotted vertical attachment strip 2. After the unit is lowered into position, .the wing nuts 6 are tightened. by hand to lock the unitin place.

The special arrangement of .the supporting means. disposed on the sidev faces of the vertical members 1 and the smooth face of the vertical members 1 permits adjacent supported units, such as 12a-12b (Fig. 1a),-to be brought into abutting engagement on a front face of a vertical member 1 and alternatively permits a long panel such as 12a (Figs. 1 and la) to extend over the front face of an intermediate vertical member 1.

Equipment units 13a-13c are mounted on vertical members 1 as follows: holes are drilled in the side walls of the shelving unit to line up vertically with theslots 1a in vertical attachment strip 2 (Fig. 2). Metal pegs of a diameter to fit the lower parts of the slots are inserted into the slots through the holes drilled as above described in the side walls of shelving units Ilia-43c to hold the shelves in place.

Equipment unit 14 is mounted as follows: .a section of each of two adjoining members 1 extending the. full height of the unit 14 and from the rear faces of these .members .1 to within one or two inches (as may be desired) of the front faces of said members is cut away from the sides of said members which face each other. Into this cut-away section is inserted an answering cut-away section of the side wall of the utility closet, the said side wall and the vertical member being bolted or laminated together to form the complete side wall of the utility closet .14. Where greater closet depth is required, the closetmay be either recessed into the classroom wall and mounted as described above, or a complete closet unit maybe attached to the vertical members v1 .in the same manneras shelving units 1311-130.

It will be 'seenfrom the foregoing that the units, with theexception of the specially mounted unit 14 which may hemoved with .its supporting members as a single unit, maybe readily demounted from the vertical members .1 and interchanged to various positions and for various purposes. For example, in converting a classroom into alibrary the chalkboards, tackboards and other instructional equipment may quickly be replaced by storage shelves, magazine racks and exhibit panels; or if a classroom is to be converted from first or second grade to seventh grade use, such equipment units as chalkboards, tackboards and shelving can readily be raised to the desired new height to accommodate older children.

The positioning of the vertical members 1 and all equipment attached thereto away from the wall and clear of the floor permits cleaning or treatment of the entire wall and floor surface and provides free access to utilities .locatedinside the walls or beneath thefloors without the spirit and scope. of my invention, and I aim .in the appended claims to coverlsuch changes and modifications .asgfall within the-scope of the invention.

Whatlclaim is:

1. In a schoolroom structure of the character described, the combination of, a plurality of at least three longitudinal standards, each standard having parallel side faces and an unobstructed front face, means for rigidly attaching the standards to a supporting wall in parallel upright positions on centers spaced equal distances horizontally along the wall, with side faces of the standards in parallel upright planes and with front faces of the standards aligned in a single upright plane, each standard having studs projecting laterally outwardly from the side faces thereof and adjustable throughout the major length of the standards, means for rigidly securing the studs in adjusted positions, a plurality of schoolroom units of various functional characteristics, each comprising an upright panel having a rear face abuttable against front faces of said standards, at least one of said panels having a horizontal length substantially equal to the horizontal spacing between standard centers and at least one other of said panels having a horizontal length substantially equal to a multiple of the horizontal spacing between standard centers, each unit having mounting brackets, one adjacent each of the four corners of the panels, spaced laterally inwardly from the adjacent lateral .margin of the panel, rigidly secured to the unit and extending rearwardly of the panel rear face for detachable en gagement with studs on two of said standards to support the units with the rear face of said one unit overlapping and abutting the front face of two adjacent standards and with the rear face of said one other unit ,overlapping and abutting the front face of more than two standards.

2. In a schoolroom structure of the character described: the combination of a plurality of schoolroom units of various functional characteristics, and means for supporting the units adjustably and removably to permit repositioning; said supporting means comprising, .a .plurality of at least three longitudinal standards, means for rigidly attaching the standards to a supporting wall in parallel upright positions on centers spaced equaldistances horizontally along the wall, each standard having a generally rectangular cross section and including parallel upright side faces and an upright unobstructed front face, unit supporting studs projecting laterally outwardly from the side faces of said standards, means mounting the studs on the standards for adjustment throughout the major length of the standards and for rigid attachment to the standards in adjusted positions; at least one ofsaid schoolroom units comprising an upright panel having a horizontal length substantially equal the horizontal spac ing between standard centers and a rear face abuttablc against the front faces of two adjacent standards, at least one other of said schoolroom units comprising an upright panel having a horizontal length substantially equal a multiple of the horizontal spacing between standard centers and a rear face abuttable against the front faces of more than two standards, said one unit andsaid one other unit each having mounting brackets adjacent but spaced laterally inwardly from the lateral margins thereof and extending rearwardly of said rear faces for detachable engagement with studs on two standards to support the units with the rear face of said one unit overlapping and abutting the front faces of two adjacent standards and with the rear face of said one other unit overlapping and abutting the front faces of more than two standards.

3. In a schoolroom structure of the character described, the combination of, a plurality of longitudinal standards, means for'rigidly attaching the standards to a supporting wall in parallel upright positions on centers spaced equal distances horizontally along the wall, each standard having parallel upright side faces. and an upright unobstructed .front face, a plurality ofschoolroom units, each-comiprising "an upright panel .having a horizontal length at least substantiallyequal to the horizontalspacing between standard centers and a rear face abuttable against front faces of said standards, each unit having mounting brackets adjacent but spaced laterally inwardly from the lateral margins of the panel rigidly secured to the unit and extending rearwardly of the panel rear face, and support means on the standards at the side faces thereof detachably engageable by said brackets to support each unit at various elevations on two standards with the rear face of each unit overlapping and abutting the front face of at least two adjacent standards.

4. In a schoolroom structure of the character described, the combination of, a plurality of longitudinal standards, means for rigidly attaching the standards to a supporting wall in parallel upright positions spaced equal distances horizontally along the wall, each standard having parallel upright side faces and an upright front face, said standards having grooves in the side faces thereof extending throughout the major length of the standards, closure strips on the standards extending across said grooves and having slot means therein along the major length of the standards, a plurality of support bolts associated with each closure strip adjustable along the length of the standard in said slot means, a lock nut on each bolt releasably securing the bolt in adjusted positions on the strip, a plurality of schoolroom units, each having mounting brackets rigidly secured thereon adjacent four corners thereof, each mounting bracket having a downwardly opening slot detachably receiving one of said bolts to removably support each schoolroom unit on two standards, and an additional lock nut on each bolt releasably securing the brackets on the bolts.

5. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said means for rigidly attaching the standards to a supporting wall comprises, at least two longitudinally spaced upright slots recessed into the rear of each standard, each slot having a depth for slidably receiving a complementary tongue for mounting the standard, T-plates for securing the standards to a supporting wall in parallel upright positions, each T-plate including a vertically disposed platelil-re tongue extending horizontally forward and slidably engageable in one of said slots so that the standards may be adjusted toward and away from the wall to position the front faces of the standards in alignment in a common upright plane, means for securing the standards to the tongues, each T-plate including a head abuttable against a supporting Wall and having laterally elongated holes therethrough, and attachment bolts passable through said holes and into a supporting wall for securing the T- plates to the wall, permitting lateral adjustment of the T-plates to position the standards with the side faces thereof in parallel upright planes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 21,871 Welch Aug. 5, 1941 806,677 Keil Dec. 5, 1905 866,695 Taussig Sept. 24, 1907 919,526 Belcher Apr. 27, 1909 945,280 Lindberg Jan. 4, 1910 946,337 Clear Jan. 11, 1910 957,259 Ruby May 10, 1910 2,031,718 Kress Feb. 25, 1936 2,121,213 Small June 21, 1938 2,136,109 Kress Nov. 8, 1938 2,355,651 Hormes Aug. 15, 1944 

